Elastically averaged alignment systems and methods

Abstract

In one aspect, an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The system includes a first component having opposed curved first and second alignment members and a second component having an inner wall defining an alignment aperture. The inner wall includes a first edge and an opposed second edge, and the curved first and second alignment members are an elastically deformable material such that when the opposed curved first and second alignment members are inserted into the alignment aperture, the curved first and second alignment members elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component within the aperture of the second component in a desired orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An elastically averaged alignment system comprising:
 a first component comprising opposed curved first and second alignment members; and   a second component comprising an inner wall defining an alignment aperture, the inner wall having a first edge and an opposed second edge,   wherein the curved first and second alignment members are an elastically deformable material such that when the opposed curved first and second alignment members are inserted into the alignment aperture, the curved first and second alignment members elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component within the aperture of the second component in a desired orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first component further comprises a curved third alignment member, and the second component inner wall includes a third edge. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the curved third alignment member is oriented orthogonally to the first and second curved alignment members, and the third edge is oriented orthogonally to the first and second edges. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the curved third alignment member comprises a retention member extending therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the retention member includes an angularly extending insertion face configured to facilitate insertion of the curved third alignment member into the alignment aperture, and a retention face configured to engage a portion of the second component to facilitate preventing removal of the curved third alignment member from the alignment aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the curved first alignment member is configured to engage the inner wall first edge, and the curved second alignment member is configured to engage the inner wall second edge. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the curved first and second alignment members curve towards each other. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first component further comprises a tubular fourth alignment member, and the second component further comprises a second inner wall defining a second alignment aperture, wherein the fourth alignment member is an elastically deformable material such that when the fourth alignment member is inserted into the second alignment aperture the fourth alignment member elastically deforms to an elastically averaged final configuration to further facilitate aligning the first component and the second component in the desired orientation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises more than one of each of the elastically deformable curved first and second alignment members, the more than one of the elastically deformable curved first and second alignment members being geometrically distributed with respect to the alignment aperture, such that portions of the elastically deformable curved first and second alignment members, when engaged with the alignment aperture inner wall, elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that further aligns the first component with the second component in at least two of four planar orthogonal directions. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle comprising:
 a body; and   an elastically averaged alignment system integrally arranged within the body, the elastically averaged alignment system comprising:
 a first component comprising opposed curved first and second alignment members; and 
 a second component comprising an inner wall defining an alignment aperture, the inner wall having a first edge and an opposed second edge, 
 wherein the curved first and second alignment members are an elastically deformable material such that when the opposed curved first and second alignment members are inserted into the alignment aperture, the curved first and second alignment members elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component within the aperture of the second component in a desired orientation. 
   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the first component further comprises a curved third alignment member, and the second component inner wall includes a third edge. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the curved third alignment member is oriented orthogonally to the first and second curved alignment members, and the third edge is oriented orthogonally to the first and second edges. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the curved third alignment member comprises a retention member extending therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the retention member includes an angularly extending insertion face configured to facilitate insertion of the curved third alignment member into the alignment aperture, and a retention face configured to engage a portion of the second component to facilitate preventing removal of the curved third alignment member from the alignment aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the curved first alignment member is configured to engage the inner wall first edge, and the curved second alignment member is configured to engage the inner wall second edge. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the curved first and second alignment members curve towards each other. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the first component further comprises a curved fourth alignment member, and the second component inner wall includes a fourth edge, wherein the curved third and fourth alignment members are opposed and the third and fourth edges are opposed. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the first component comprises more than one of each of the elastically deformable curved first and second alignment members, the more than one of the elastically deformable curved first and second alignment members being geometrically distributed with respect to the alignment aperture, such that portions of the elastically deformable curved first and second alignment members, when engaged with the alignment aperture inner wall, elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that further aligns the first component with the second component in at least two of four planar orthogonal directions. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing an elastically averaged alignment system, the method comprising:
 forming a first component having opposed curved first and second alignment members;   forming a second component having an inner wall defining an alignment aperture, the inner wall having a first edge and an opposed second edge; and   forming the curved first and second alignment members from an elastically deformable material such that when the opposed curved first and second alignment members are inserted into the alignment aperture, the curved first and second alignment members elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component within the aperture of the second component in a desired orientation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming the first component with curved third alignment members.